Method of making plate glass



1949, M. L. DEVOL 2,478,090

METHOD OF MAKING PLATE GLASS Filed Jan. 2, 1943 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 2, 1949. M. DEVOL METHOD OF MAKING PLATE GLAS S 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 2, 1943 APB //.vv/v 70A Manson L. Devo/ Aug. 2, 1949. M. 1.. DEVOL 2,478,090

METHOD OF MAKING PLATE GLAS S Filed Jan. 2, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet /V 1 E A/ TOE Mar/7500 L. fieuo/ Patented Aug. 2, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING PLATE GLASS Manson L. Devol, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 2, 1943, Serial No. 471,121

2 Claims. (Cl. 493) The present invention relates to processes of and apparatus for obtaining more efiicient flow .of fluid or plastic glasses over the surface of apparatus employed in manufacturing operations.

One object of the invention is to reduce friction between flowing but relatively viscous or plastic glass and the various surfaces of apparatus with which it may contact.

A second object is to prevent adhesion of the glass to the surface and to prevent corrosion of the surface by the hot glass.

A third object is to reduce heat losses from glass through the walls of the apparatus employed in handling .or treating it.

A fourth object is to prevent devitrification of the glass at the line of contact between it and the apparatus.

A fifth object is to reduce so-called ream occurring in glass as a result of variations in the treatment of different portions .of it.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from consideration of the following specification and the appended claims.

In the manufacture of various articles, such as sheet or plate glass by drawing or rolling processes, it is frequently desirable to flow the relatively viscous or even plastic glass mass over a refractory surface. Often difficulties are encountered in such operation. For example, the friction between the molten glass and the surface is relatively great, thus causing variations in movement and distortions of the glass which appear as ream in the finished product. Also, losses of the heat from the glass through the surfaces with which it contacts is comparatively great and may result in premature cooling. In some instances the condition of operation may even be such that a certain degree of so-called devitrification of the glass, i. e., segregation of the components, may occur.

Difficulties, for example, have been encountered in glass drawing operations in which a sheet of glass is fed from a tank or container over a discharge apron to a set of forming rolls. Under such conditions friction may cause variation in the path of travel of different portions of glass which produce irregularity in the refractive index of different portions of the same sheet. Devitrification of the glass along the lines of contact with the walls of the apron or spout likewise is likely to occur.

In accordance with the provisions of the present invention it is proposed to obviate or reduce the foregoing dimculties in various operations in V 2 which molten .or plastic glass is caused to flow over the surfaces of handling apparatus. This is accomplished by forming the contacting surfaces or at least the essential portions of the contacting surfaces of a porous or permeable but refractory material and then gently blowing air or other gas through it in such manner as to provide a thin cushioning film of air upon the surface. No substantial amount of air is blown perpendicularly away as a blast or stream, but only in such amount as is required to replenish any portion of the gaseous medium moving parallel to the surface is supplied.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which- Fig. 1 is a sectional view which diagrammatically illustrates the application of the principles of the invention to provide an improved pouring apron or spout for a glass drawing apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the application of the principles of the invention to a drawing slot in the side of a conventional glass tank;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the application of the invention to a fork or edge bowl used in the vertical drawing of glass sheets;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the edge bowl of Fig. 4 upon a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the application of the invention to the drawbar employed in the vertical drawing of sheet glass;

Fig. 7 illustrates the application of the invention for purposes of maintaining the smoothness and uniformity of the sheet of glass in a vertical drawing chamber;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the application of the invention to a glass tank in such manner as to reduce or obviate corrosion of the side walls of the latter;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through a block suitable for use in the embodiment .of the invention shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of the particles in a permeable member for use in practicing the invention.

The construction shown in Fig. 1 embodies a horizontally disposed glass tank ll having a roof l2, bottom I3 and end wall sections I4 and I5, all formed of a refractory material of the type ordinarily employed in the construction of such tank. Gas and air in an inflammable mixture for heating the tank may be introduced through a plurality of ports, such as the port ll. This tank is fed in conventional manner with a mixture of glass batch materials which is melted down in the tank and flows forwardly therethrough in a pool l8. J

The molten glass discharges 'from the tank through a slot I9 between the sections I4 and I5 and in so doing passes over an apron 2|, leading to a pair of forming rolls 22, designed to Jsizethe sheet to desired thickness. The molten glass is guided and directed to the "bigli't'o'f therollers in a stream of desired width by means of 'so-called guns 23, which comprise hollow plates best illustrated in Fig. 2. Each of these includes-a recessed backing member 24 having a porous plate 26 disposed to close the recess 27, thus providing in effect an air chamber or box, which is supplied with 'a gaseous medium, such as air -'or nitrogen through'conduits Ziileading to a suitable source of supply (not shown).

Plates 26 may be formed of cohered, but relatively finely powdered, highly refractory material, such as a plate'of sintered, powdered, stainless steel, graphite or a plate of sintered silicon carbide or other material which will permit the permeation of gases through minute tortuous channels, butwill still afford substantial resistt ance to the flow so that under low pressures a surface film of the order of 3% of an inch in thickness will be formed. A'pressure for-example of the order of onepound'p'e'r sq. inch in the space 27 will, under most conditions, be found 'to be satisfactory. 'The gaseous medium then fiows very gently through the plate and provides the requisite cushioning film without actually Jinducing perceptible streams or blasts to blow ,perpendicularly fromthe surface insuchmanner as actively'to push'the glass away. .The cushioning film; even under these conditions, will prevent contact between the glass'and the porous plate surfacethereby reducing or substantially eliminating friction upon the glass. The cushioning layer of air or other'g'as, further, actsas an insulating medium to prevent "the transfer of heat from the glass to the walls'contiguous thereto. The fluidity of theiglass is thus maintained and "the apparatus is protected from excessive temperatures. The glass flows from the apron 'to the bight of the forming rolls 22 'whereit is shaped or rolled'to a thin sheet of desired thickness.

The formed she'et'passes to a second apron 29, which may also include a porous platetop 3| cov- "e'ring a chamber 32,'supplied with gaseous medium by means of conduit 33. The sheet passes over the surface substantially without friction,

thus preventing scarring or marring and also preventing other distortions.

'to an annealing-lehr 31 of conventional design.

In'the apparatus shown in Fig. '3 a tank 401s provided and is heated with combustible gases introduced through port 4|. The upper and lower sections 42 and "43'of-the 'end wall'of'this tank are so spaced as 'toprovide aslot or nozzle "-45"through which the glass from'pool 44 within the tank flows as a-contin'ouu's stream. In o'rder to obtain frictionlessflowthrough thenozzle or slot, the faces of the latt'er lare formed'asporous ous medium is supplied to this chamber by means of conduit '51, in order to provide the desired cushioning layer for the glass upon the plate. 'The sheetofglassmoves over the surface almost without friction and without substantial disturbance from any blasts of air and can be transferred after it is sufficiently cooled to a suitable conveyor system for conduction through an annealing lehr.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 a sheet of glass 6E! is vertically drawn froma molten bath 6| "in a'suitable tankor-container'BZ. Thetraction for the drawing operation may conveniently 'be supplied' b'y a system of rollers 63 driven by any mechanism (not shown). The glass is maintamed-to width during the drawing operation by meansof an edge bowl-or forked construction "64 havingasshowninFig. 5 a substantial U -shape"in which a slot 86 closely fits the surface of the sheet of-gla'ss being drawn. 'The inner faces'fil'ofthe slot are formed of porous refractory materialand a chamber 68 is provided back "of the plate by means ofnon permeable walls 69. The chamber is supplied with gaseous medium by meansof conduit 'l i. It may-also be provided'with cooling coils 12, which are supplied with cooling medium, by means of a conduit -l-3'leading to a suitable source (not shown). Spent medium is drawn off by'conduit 14. "The fork or bowl 64 is supported by means'of a lug l5 upon the wa1l 69,which lug 'is attached to anarml't extending horizontally and being attachedat its outer extremity-to "a'collar l-Tupon a vertical standard 18.

In the operation of this embodiment of the apparatus the glass sheet is drawn upwardly between rollers 63 andsimultaneously gas is supplied'to the chamber back of the porousplatefi'l. The gas in permeating through the plate forms a'cushion film between the plate and the surface of'the glass approximately at the meniscus. 'The hardening of'the edges of the sheet can be'pro- *moted by flowing cooling medium through the conduits l3 to the c'oillE.

The application of the invention to a draw-"bar construction suitable for the "formation of sheet glass by continuous "drawing operation is illustrated in Fig. 6. This construction includes a tanked of-conventionaldesign andhavin'g. a'bottom-8 Lend walls82 and a ro'of'or arch83. A'fpartition84 projects downwardly fromthe roof and the lower edge thereof 'is'submerged'inthe .upper layers of a'pool86 of molten glass, whereby to define'a drawing'compartm'ent '87. The draw-bar structure 88 to which the present invention is particularly directed fioa'tsin the moltenglass'in the compartment'fi'l. It is formedwithaslot89 through which thegla'ssis'drawn. The -faces of the slot are provided with permeable Iplates 9| of refractory material so-curved as to promote the formation of "a uniform sheet 82 of glass. Cells or chambers 93 are formedback ofitheplates 9! and are supplied with aninert gaseous medium by means 'ofinlets94.

The sheet of glass "from the chamber is drawn upwardly "through 3 an annealing lehr -96 '-havirig drawing rollers 9! arranged in opposed pairs therein. These rollers are driven by any convenient means (not shown) and function to grip and pull the freshly formed sheet upwardly. In order to promote the solidification of the sheet as soon as possible after formation, coolers 98 are disposed in chamber 81 upon opposite sides of the sheet and at a point only slightly above the draw-bar. These coolers are supplied with a cooling medium, such as water introduced through suitable conduits (not shown).

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention molten glass is simply drawn from the portion of the pool within the compartment 8'l through the slot 83. At the same time fluid under compression is supplied to the conduits 93. The medium permeates through the plates 9i and forms a thin film of almost completely quiescent gas upon the surface thereof. This film almost completely overcomes friction upon the glass passing through the slot of the draw-bar and also protects the surface of the bar from corrosion by the molten glass.

In Fig. 7 is disclosed glass drawing apparatus in which porous plates are provided in close proximity to the surface of the glass sheet while it is in its initial stages of cooling. In this way the glass while it is still soft and plastic is protected from the influence of atmospheric disturbances and air currents in the chamber. Uniform cooling over the entire width of the sheet is thus assured and a decrease in the waviness and other flaws in the glass is obtained. This construction includes a tank lfifi having a bottom tel, side wall I62 and a roof W3. A barrier I84, depending from the roof, dips into the pool 586 of glass in such manner as to provide a drawing compartment tel. All of these elements are substantially similar to the corresponding elements shown in Fig. 6. The drawing compartment is provided with a draw-bar H38, which may be of the same construction shown in Fig. 6, or as actually shown in the drawings, is merely a simple member I59, having a drawing slot H0. The glass is drawn upwardly as a sheet I i I into a vertical annealing lehr I52 provided with drawing rollers l I3.

Porous or permeable plates II iof refractory material are disposed upon opposite sides of the sheet I i l in close proximity thereto. The spacing in effect may amount to a mere fraction of an inch, for example e e or even less. Chambers Iii: are disposed back of the plates i It and constitute wind boxes into which a gaseous medium, such as air or nitrogen is introduced through conduits iI'l. Cooling coils H8 are also provided in the chamber in close proximity to the plates lid and may be supplied with a liquid coolant, such as water from a source (not shown). These coolers absorb heat from the plates and thus promote the rapid setting of the glass into a permanent non-devitrifiable sheet.

It is well recognized that molten glass in a tank, as it flows forward along the side walls, tends strongly to corrode the latter, thus necessitating replacement of the walls or the linings thereof and also tending in many instances to contaminate the glass. Sometimes the glass of the side walls is so retarded by friction that devitrification may occur.

In accordance with the provisions of the present invention it is proposed to obviate or reduce the action of molten glass in a glass tank upon the side Walls, especially at the lines of greatest activity, i. e., the surface, by the provision of hollow refractory blocks having facings of permeable material through which a gaseous medium can be forced, to provide a protective film of air. The apparatus as shown in Fig. 8 includes a tank I'2i) having side walls IZI, a bottom I22 and a roof or arch I23. The bottom is supported upon I-beams I24, in turn resting upon pillars 526. The arch rests upon shoulder blocks I21, which are backed by vertical columns I253, having an interconnecting tie-rod I29.

The molten glass forms a pool I3I in the tank and in order to protect the side Walls contiguous to the surface of the pool from the action of the molten glass, the upper courses I32 of blocks are provided with means for maintaining a film of air protecting their inner surfaces from the molten glass. In this construction the blocks are provided with recesses I33 closed by porous plates E33 of refractory material. The recesses are supplied with fluid under slight compression by conduits I36 leading to a source (not shown) of fluid, such as nitrogen or air under compression. It will of course be apparent that the entire side walls and even the bottom of the tank may be formed of blocks of the construction shown in Fig. 9. The films of quiescent air upon the surfaces of the blocks protect the blocks from corrosion by the glass. They also help to prevent friction between the glass and the side walls of the tank, thus insuring that all portions of the glass will move forward at a relatively uniform rate. Devitrification is thus prevented. It will also be apparent that the films of air act thermally to insulate the blocks of the tank from the molten glass so that heat losses are prevented and the blocks are protected from excessively high temperatures.

In Fig. 10 is illustrated a small section of a porous member such as might be employed in connection with any of the inventions herein illustrated and showing upon an enlarged scale an approximate arrangement of the particles constituting the member.

The member includes a large number of minute but refractory particles Mil of graphite, stainless steel or the like, bonded together at their points of contact MI in any convenient manner. In some cases the particles may be sintered together. Small voids I42 are left between the particles and these voids intercommunicate to provide tortuous passages through which a gaseous medium can permeate, however, only with much frictional loss.

The forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be regarded merely as exemplary. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made therein without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A method of forming a ribbon of glass sub stantially free of ream, which comprises flowing a stream of molten glass from a tank through a discharge opening in a wall thereof, passing the stream through a chute having side walls of porous permeable material having many tortuous channels adapted to transmit a gas with much frictional loss, and blowing gas through the side walls to maintain thin films of quiescent gas upon the surfaces thereof between the surfaces and the glass, without appreciable blast toward the glass and rolling out the glass into a ribbon of desired thickness as it comes from the chute.

2. In an apparatus for forming a glass sheet, a tank for supplying molten glass, said tank having a drawing opening formed in an end thereof,

egszegoeo Z forming rollers spaced; hoflzontally' from. the opening; a; chute leading from; the opening? to the bight of the: rollers, said chute having side walls: comprising chambersg. conduits communicatingvwith the chambers for. supplying gas. under. pressure thereto; porous closures for the chamhers constituting contact; elements for the glass. flowing through thechute, said closure elements being formed of comm-muted refiractory material bonded. together to provide intetcommunicating spaces between the pan-titles, said spaces constituting' highly tortuous channels. through which gas from"- the chamber gently flows to formquiescent films-between the glass and the surfaces of theclosure members;

IVIANSON L; DEVOL.

CITED The-following; references are of record in thefile of? this patent:

UNITED STATES BA'IEENTS Number Name Date Re. 16,856 Gelstherp Jan. 17,1928- 820,205 Keiglrley May 8, 1906 8*; Number. Name: Date.

958,613 Forgo;- May 17 191-0 L,128;44& Hitchcock Feb. 16,1915, L251,932 Slingluffi Jan. 1, 19113:

5 LAZDBGK Scchy, June 27, 1922-, 1 4835336. Curl. Feb. 12,1924. 1,554,267 Ewing Sept 22,1925.- l,59l;,lx7.9' Myers July 6 1926-. 1,622,813. Wlaldron Mar. 29; 1927 110 1:,82'L,1-3&1 Brzmcam't Oct. 13, v 1931 1,841,660. Mambourg. -1 Jan.. 19, 1932 2,162,983. Sullivan; June 20; 19.39 2,243,194 ($300k. May 27,1941. 2.2%,.717 Nash. July 8,1941.

L5 2,272,930 Black. Feb.. 10,1942. 2,395,727 Devola Feb. 26, 1946;

PATENTS Number Country Date 9,033 Great Britain. 190. 434,777 France Dec 6-,.191-1.

OTHER REFERENCES- Powder. Metallurgy, Jones, pub.. by Edward Arnold 8E: 00., London, 193,7, pp.. 1.34 and. 135..

(Copy in Div. 3.). 

